Avoiding Costly Plumbing Repairs

When it comes to avoiding costly plumbing repairs, what a professional plumber costs to do some routine maintenance and replacements will be a lot less than an emergency plumbing call-out. Art Plumbing and Air Conditioning has some handy tips to help you keep those plumbing costs to a minimum.

Fix leaks before they become a bigger problem
As soon as you come across a leak or think that you might have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system, get it sorted out. The longer you wait the worse the issue will become and in the end it could cost you more than what a normal plumber would cost. If the leak gets big enough to do some damage to your property (damp, collapsed ceiling, flooded kitchen etc.) then you could be paying more than you bargained for to repair the severe damage. So contact your plumber to make sure that a little leak doesn’t turn into a big problem.

Do routine maintenance and cleaning on all your big plumbing equipment and drainage
It’s as simple as making sure that all your pipes, gutters and drains are free from any blockages to avoid unnecessary plumbing repair costs. Another good idea is to drain your water heater once a year to check for any sediment and mineral build-up in your tank. These kinds of build-ups can cause your water heater to leak, or worse, burst.

Quick fixes
Get a professional plumber to check and adjust your water pressure on a regular basis and install a pressure regulator. Water pressure over 80 psi is damaging to your plumbing system and could cause massive complications down the line. We would also recommend that you replace all tube or copper pipe water supply lines with steel braided supply lines as they are much more durable and hygienic. Lastly, you can ask your plumber to install quarter turn ball valves instead of keeping your old shutoff valves – these are much easier to operate in an emergency and work really well. It is also a good idea to know where your main shutoff valve is in case of a bigger problem than just a overflowing toilet.

Use gentle drain cleaners
Harsh chemical drain cleaners are often the go-to product in an emergency. However, these cleaners will often cause a bigger problem as they strip away the protective layer of your pipes which could then rust and leak. Use gentle, natural drain cleaners. Not only will you be helping the environment but you will also be doing yourself a service.

With these handy tips and the help of a trusty plumber, costs of repairs should be a thing of the past. Call Art Plumbing and Air Conditioning today to find out how we can help you avoid costly plumbing repairs.